Vangelis / Delectus: new 13-disc box set

A new 13CD box set, called Delectus, will feature all of Vangelis‘ Vertigo and Polydor albums – including the Oscar winning Chariots Of Fire – newly remastered (from the original first generation master tapes) ever under the legendary composer’s own supervision.
As well as the albums Earth, L’Apocalypse Des Animaux, China, See You Later, Antarctica, Mask, Opera Sauvage, Chariots of Fire, Soil Festivities and Invisible Connections, Delectus also features recordings with Jon Anderson as ‘Jon & Vangelis’. These are Short Stories, The Friends of Mister Cairo, and Private Collection. Additionally, this set features four bonus tracks, one of which, Neighbours Above (on the See You Later disc) is previously unreleased.

The 64-page book contains rare photos

Delectus is presented as an outer box which contain two large die-cut wallets to hold all of the discs and a 64-page book, with essays, and rare photos. The image above suggests a poster may be included as well.

Speaking about the new box, Vangelis said “I always welcome remastering my old work for two basic reasons. Firstly, I get the opportunity to bring the sounds to today’s standards, secondly, it gives me the chance to go through the experiences and memories of the time.”

28 responses to Vangelis / Delectus: new 13-disc box set

I’d like to hear this not sure about stumping out the cash though – I suspect there will be severe demands on my wallet over the next month or so.
Also my absolute love of Friends of Mr Cairo is severely tempered by my absolute loathing of Chariots of Fire…

Soil Festivities is a particular fave of mine. Blade Runner part 2 on some tracks. Anyone who finds the sound of rain relaxing will love this album.

Packaging looks disappointing – Nobody likes all the discs stuffed in slits in cardboard wallets (instant scratches), nobody except cost-cutting product managers. I can see them thinking that this allows more prominence on the shop-shelf at what looks like LP size but most sales will be online so that logic falls apart when analysed. Put them in CD single cases if cost is an issue and house the lot in a sturdy box – This would please most buyers where more cardboard wallets won’t.

The “Friends Of Mr. Cairo” album was to have been released by Audio Fidelity as a SACD earlier this year. AF boss Marshall Blonstein told me that it had been remastered, and he was co-ordinating the project with Vangelis’ brother, and then suddenly Universal pulled the plug. Now we know why.

Oh. I’ve been gradually collecting all Vangelis’ work over the last couple of years, so this isn’t really going to appeal to me now. I’d like to see standalone reissues for them, especially the harder-to-find ones such as See You Later.

Maybe there’s not much love for Chariots of Fire here, but I’ve always hoped Vangelis would release some of the unreleased music that you can hear in the film that didn’t appear on the album (an alternate version of “Hymne,” for example). This box would have been a good place to do that.

But here’s the thing…. a Vangelis box set without the likes of Albedo 0.39 is always going feel a little strange. But there’s worse news – many of the titles not in this box had a remaster, by Vangelis, in recent times – and the reviews were not good. He made changes to the music, added reverb, cut some running time, and just generally mucked about with them.

And the thing is – these are all out on readily available CD’s. They’re not remastered, but guess what – they sound fantastic. We live in a era where everything has to be “remastered” or people don’t seem interested, sadly. I can see the Steve Hoffman threads now, as collectors scramble to get the original CD releases, because they offer the best sound. I just don’t see how they’re going to be improved (though only time will tell).

I will add, some of what is missing is pure magic, for example – The City is a fantastic work. Finally, the box includes the DG release – Invisible Connections, which history tells me is a title few Vangelis fans are going to want (it’s always divided people, being a sort of companion to Beaubourg.)

I love these boxes, but it’s so much better when agreements are cut, and they’re complete. I know this set is based around the labels mentioned, but it’s such a shame. I’m also surprised at the lack of extras, seems only a handful of tracks for See You Later.

Finally – is there any indication that they’re including the original artwork?

Re: Invisible Connections being included, this set seems to encompass the remainder of his work made at Nemo Studios (other than already released remasters on RCA and two Irene Papas discs). I think Earth is the odd one out on that score but is included for completists sake. I’m sure there’s a b-side from China thats missing, oddly. So not ‘complete’ anyway.

While it probably isn’t enough to entice most people to spring for the whole thing, nobody (including, it seems, in the promo blurb) has mentioned that Earth has only ever been available on CD in Greece, and not easy to get a hold of.

I am a fan of Vangelis (and Jon & Vangelis equally) for a very long time, and such a box set makes me very happy! Sure I have all these albums already, and some in more than one version… Still I am looking forward to hearing them refreshed, and accompanied by some nice book.

The remastering was done several years ago, and the RCA remasters that got released were a mixed bunch. At least we are getting the rest now, but I agree its a bit lazy. He could have included another disc of unreleased stuff from the period, say more tracks from unreleased scores like Missing or The Bounty (theres still some stuff from Blade Runner unreleased). But hey, its Vangelis we should be thankful even for this package as it is. A better title would have been ‘Miracle’, frankly.

Further to the above , just ordered via Amazon France . Total : 47.70 euros all in . Hope this comes to fruition .. Anyone else reading this & keen to get hold of a copy , would place an order quickly . Not sure how many they have left in stock to pre-order ? . Makes me wonder how this price can be offered when it differs so significantly to other outlets £85 – £95 …